GOP convention has its share of colorful delegates

Published: Monday, July 31, 2000

PHILADELPHIA {AP} Leading the Arizona delegation is the millionaire daughter of a beer baron. She's a former special education teacher who overcame an addiction to painkillers that led her to steal drugs from a medical charity she founded.

And oh yeah, she's married to a man who ran for president this year.

Cindy McCain ranks among the more interesting Republican convention delegates who stand out among the crowd of 2,066. From Abate to Ziegler, they range in age from 19 to 97. Here's a look at a few of them:

EMILE ROY, Sanford, Maine

The secrets revealed by those who have sat in this barber's chair remain under lock and key including any supplied by the Bush family.

The 80-year-old barber has snipped the hair of various Bush members, including the former president when he visits his summer home in Kennebunkport, Maine.

BILL STRONG, Hazard, Ky.

Church elder, insurance agent, former state legislator.

Convicted felon.

FBI agents snared Strong in an undercover investigation that led to his 1993 guilty plea. Strong admitted accepting $3,000 in cash from a hospital lobbyist, but said the money had nothing to do with a bill that would have benefited regional hospitals. Instead, he said the money was used in his campaign. The mail fraud charge stemmed from his sending a false campaign finance report to state authorities.

"Bill made a mistake. He was punished and I don't think we should hold mistakes over people's heads for the rest of their lives," said Kentucky GOP chairwoman, Ellen Williams.

JOY BARGANIER, Fort Deposit, Ala.

This 19-year-old Auburn University student shares the status of being the youngest Republican delegate.

Fortunately, she'll have her mother beside her attending as a fellow delegate. For Susan Barganier, 48, this will be her second convention.

"I think it's going to be awesome," the younger Barganier said about having her mom around. "It's going to be nice to have someone there who really knows the ropes."